What is my dog allergic to?

If your dog is showing signs of an allergy, it can be a process of elimination to pinpoint exactly what is causing it. But what are the most common allergies in dogs? What are the symptoms of allergy in dogs? and how do you go about finding what is causing an allergy in dogs? Here we answer some of the most common allergy-related questions.

Types of allergies in dogs?

There are a few different types of allergies your dog can suffer from, skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens can all cause your dog’s immune system to react in a misguided way. All these allergies can cause symptoms that pose a challenge to owners, especially initially when trying to find exactly what is causing the reaction.

Skin allergies

Skin allergies, known as allergic dermatitis, are one of the most common types of allergic reactions in dogs. There are three main causes of skin allergies in dogs.

1. Flea allergy dermatitis

2. Food allergies

3. Environmental allergens

Flea allergy dermatitis is caused by a reaction to the bite of a flea, specifically the saliva of the said flea. The allergic reaction will cause extreme itching, especially at the base of the tail. Your dog’s skin may become red and inflamed and eventually, scab over.

Food allergies can also cause itchy skin, mainly around the ears and paws. You may also notice gastrointestinal symptoms, such as diarrhoea and vomiting. Other symptoms to look out for include low appetite, chronic weight loss, abdominal pain and lethargy.

Environmental allergens including pollen, dust and mould can all cause atopic allergic reactions or atopic dermatitis. As with seasonal allergies, such as hay fever in humans, allergies can also be seasonal in dogs, so you may notice your dog is only itching at certain times of the year. Similar to food allergies, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears, but you may also notice itching around the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes.

If you believe your dog has a skin allergy, it is important to work with your vet to find out what is causing it and to assist with managing symptoms, as they can be very uncomfortable for your dog.

Food allergies

Food allergies result in an immune response, which can show as symptoms ranging from skin conditions including hives, facial swelling, itchiness, gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhoea, or it may be a combination of both. In rare, severe cases, it could result in anaphylaxis, similar to severe nut allergies in humans.

When most owners say their dog has a food allergy, what they actually mean is their dog has a food sensitivity or intolerance, as food allergies in dogs are actually quite rare. The difference between a food sensitivity and a food allergy is that food sensitivity does not involve an immune response and is simply a reaction to an ingredient. Common food sensitivities in dogs include beef, chicken, eggs, corn, wheat, soy and milk.

Dogs with food sensitivities may present with several symptoms, including gastrointestinal symptoms, including vomiting and diarrhoea, or dermatologic signs such as itchiness, poor skin and coat condition, and regular ear or paw infections.

If your dog is showing symptoms of a food allergy or intolerance, you should contact your vet and work with them to pinpoint the ingredient causing the issue and assist with managing symptoms.

Acute allergic reactions

Dogs, like humans, can suffer from an acute allergic reaction and in severe cases, can go into anaphylactic shock, which can be fatal if not treated.

Whilst anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs, the most common causes are negative reactions to bee and wasp stings, medication and vaccines. It is always a good idea to keep a close eye on your dog after they have a vaccine administered or when they are taking a new medication.

Symptoms of acute allergic reactions are hives and swelling of the face, throat, lips, eyelids, or ears. While these symptoms may look serious, they are rarely fatal, and your vet is able to treat them with antihistamines.

What causes allergies in dogs?

Allergies in dogs are caused by multiple factors, both genetic and environmental. Some dogs have a genetic predisposition to develop allergies and others may develop them, due to the environment they live in.

Environmental factors which may cause allergies in dogs include exposure to pollen, dust or mould. The same as in humans, it is possible that your dog may develop an allergy to one or multiple of these, at any time in their life.

What are the symptoms of allergies in dogs?

Depending on the cause, the symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary. For instance, a dog with a skin condition will present with very different symptoms to that of a dog who is in anaphylactic shock. That makes it important for dog owners to know the signs of different types of allergies they may see in their dogs.

Anaphylactic shock symptoms

• Low blood pressure

• Shock

• Itching

• Wheals or hives

• Swollen face or muzzle

• Excessive salivation

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

Skin allergy symptoms

• Excessive licking

• Face rubbing

• Hives or swelling around the ears, eye area, earflaps and face

• Itchiness around armpits, ears, feet, flanks and groin

• Loss of fur

• Red irritated skin

Food allergy symptoms

• Itchy skin

• Rash or red sore skin around the feet, ears, face, chin, stomach and groin

• Saliva staining - a pink or brown stain on areas of the coat

• Vomiting

• Diarrhoea

• Sore Stomach

• Excessive flatulence

What should I do if my dog has symptoms of an allergy?

If your dog presents with symptoms of an allergy, it is important you speak with your vet as they may be signs of another condition. Your vet will be able to accurately diagnose your dog’s condition and help ease the symptoms to ensure your dog is comfortable.

How are allergies diagnosed in dogs?

If your dog is showing signs of allergy, it is important to get in contact with your vet. They will run tests in an attempt to diagnose the allergy. This is usually quite a complicated process that may take some time and it is important to understand that tests are not always successful at discovering allergens.

Initially, the vet will want to rule out any other condition that may be causing your dog’s symptoms. If after this, they feel an allergy is the cause of the symptoms, the next step is to try and find out what is causing the allergy. The vet may ask questions about any new foods you may have been feeding your dog or any new environment your dog may be in.

Food allergies are usually diagnosed by the process of elimination, removing certain foods and ingredients from your dog’s diet until the offending item is discovered.

The easiest allergy to diagnose is flea allergy dermatitis. It's usually diagnosed by looking for fleas on your dog's body and then applying a flea-killing product before they bite to see if that solves the problem.

How are allergies treated in dogs?

The way an allergy is treated in dogs depends on the allergy in question. The best way to treat a food allergy for instance is to avoid the offending item, which may or may not be possible. When it comes to flea allergy dermatitis, the best treatment is to kill the fleas before they have. a chance to bite.

It is always best to take your vet’s advice on matters involving allergies, they will be able to assist you in finding the cause and will be able to ease your dog’s symptoms, making them as comfortable as possible.